The Russellville Democrat., 1887-12-14

sssrs~-su.~a.sase, suusaAan~s.
 enforce sn earnest recommeidat!on shss ths growth of the surplus ffyeuues cf the Govern.
 toms duties. and, at the saue tuaa to emphasize
 suggestion that in accomplishing this pur-
 pose. we may discharge double duty to our
 from tarir taxation in quarters where 1t is most needed aud from sources where it can be most
 fairly and justly accorded.
 Nor can the presentation made Of such con siderations be, with any degree of fairness. re- garded as evidence of unfriendliness toward our
 manufacturing interests. or of any lack of ap- preciation of fheirvalue and importance. These
 interests constitute leading and most sub stantial element of our National great
 ness and furnish the proud proof of emergency thnt presses upon us our manufact- urers are asked to surrender something for the public good and divert disaster their patriot ism, as well as grateful recognition of advan- l tages already afforded, should lead them to l willing cooperation. No demand is made that mental regard but they can not fan to be ad- monished of their duty, as well their enlight- | ened selfinterest and safety, when they are re- 1 lapse, to which the present condition tends, l afforded no greater shelter or pro- tection 10 our manufactures than to our other important enterprises. Oppor-
 tunity for safe, careful and deliberate reform is | now onered and none of us should be unmind- | ful of time when an abused and irritated peo- l ! and reasonable relief, may insist upon radical
 and sweeping rectiacation of their wrongs. | The difficulty attending wise and fair re- vision of our tariff laws is not uuderestimated. | It will require on the part Of Congress great
 labor and care. and especially broad and National contemplation of the subject. and | patriotic disregard of such local and selfish l claims as are unreasonable and reckless l of the welfare of the entire country. Under our present laws more than four thousand articles | are subject to duty. Many of these do not in any way compete with our own manufactures, l and many are hardly worth attention as sub l lects of revenue. A considerable reduction can | be made in the aggregate by adding them to the 1 free list. The taxation of luxurics presents no l features of hardship: but the necessaries of l life. used and consumed by all the people, the duty upon which adds to the cost of living in every home, should be greatly chcapened The radical reduction of the duties imposed upon raw material used in manufactures. or its free importation, IS or course an important factor in any effort to reduce the price of these neces- snries Itwouid not only relieve them from the such material, but the manufactured product, being thus cheapened, that part of the tqrin now laid upon such product, as com pensation to our manufacturers for the present price of raw material could be accordingly modified. Such reduction, or free importation, would serve besides to largely reduce the rev enue It is not apparent how such change can have any injurious effect upon manufacturers On the contrary 1t would appear to give them a better chance In foreign markets with the manufacturers of other countries, who cheapen their wares by free material. Thus our people might have the opportunity of extending their sales beyond the limits of home consumption, saving them from the depression, Interruption in business, and loss caused by glutted domestic market and affording their employees more certain and steady labor. with it's resulting quiet and contentment.
 The question thus imperauvely presented for solution should be approached in spirit hi gher than partisanship, and considered in the fight Of that regard for patriotic duty which should characterize the action of those intrusted with the veal of confiding people. But the obllga- tion to declared party policy and principle is not wanting to urge prompt and effective &C., ton. Both of the great political parties now represented in the Government have, by repeat ed and authoritative declarations, condemned the condition of our laws which permit the col lection from the people Of unnecessary revenue and have, m the most solemn manner, promised Its correction. and neither citizens or parti- sans are our countrymen in : mood to condone the deliherate violation oi these pledges. 0 bro,as is'proo,s ooss. tesard wise conclusion will sas.sc.t.oyed by dwelling upon the theories
 -.!on and free trade. This savers too much Of bandying epithets. It IS condition which confronts us-not a theory. Relief from this condition may involve slight reduction of the advantages which we award our home pro ductions but the entire withdrawal of such advantages should not be contemplat- ed. The question of free trade is absolutely irrelevant; and, tho persistent claim made in certain quarters that all efforts to relieve the people from unjust and unnecessary taxation arc schemes of so-calied free traders, is mis- chievous and far removed from any considera- ton Tor the public good. The simple and plain
 
 taxation to the necessary expenses of an economical operation Of the Government. and to restore to the business of the country the money which we hold in the treasury through the perversion of governmental powers. These things can and should be done with safety to all our industries, without danger 10 the op- portunity for remuneratiYe labor which our workngmen neQi and with benefit to them and s,ll and increasing 11eans of
 T,sa.~s-.~-.~uuernn11
 ss1l 15 {0nslIt6fI6n provides that the President Shall from time to time, give to the Congress information of the State of tho Union. It has been the custom of the Executive, in compli- ance with this provision, to annually exhibit to Congress, at the opening Of its session; the general condition or the country and to detail with some particularitv. the operations Of the different executive departments. I would be especially agreeable to follow this course at the present time, and 10 call attention to the valuable accomplishments Of these de partments during the last hscal year. But am so much impressed with the paramount importance of the subject to which
 his communication has thus far been devoted,
 hat I shall forego the addition Of any other
 opc ana 9hy urge nppa e yopr nnn s ssown in the present condition of our Treasury ans our general fiscal situation, upon which every element of our safety and prosperity depends.
 The reports of the heads departments, which will be submitted, contain full and explicit in formation touching the transactions of the business intrusted 10 them and such recom- mendations relating to legislation in the public interest as they deem advisable. ask for these reports and recommendations tho delib- crate examination and action Of tho legislative branch of the Government
 There are other subjects not embraced in the departmental reports demanding legislative consideration and which I should be glad to submit Some Of them, however, have been earnestly presented in previous messages, and as to them, beg leave to repeat prior recon mendations-
 As the law makes no provision for any report from the Department of State, brief history of the transactions Of that important depart ment together with other matters which itmav hereafter be deemed essential to commend to the attention of the Congress. may furnish the occasion for future communication.
 [Signedl GROVER CLEVELAND.
 Washington, D. C., Dec. 6, lSs7